NoWayOut (7 page)

“Cats have very sensitive hearing you know, you coul
d have shattered my eardrums or
something.” He settled himself intimately between her thighs.

“And it would have served you right for nearly giving me a heart attack.”

“Hmm, I was very in tune with your body and you didn’t seem scared to me at all.”

“Believe me I was heading down that road quickly. What in God’s name would possess you to
take on a panther form?”

“Well you told me to turn into an animal nimble enough to-”

“Yeah, I remember what I said. For your sake I h
ope it worked because after your
little stunt I
don’t think I’ll ever get my libido back.”

“Sounds like a challenge.”

Before she could protest his head dipped down for a kiss that sent her senses reeling.

***

Much, much later they sat at
a café style table on the deck
fi
nishing up a rather substantial
brunch when Ramj (as Konstantin Malovich) placed a call to Alexi. Although there was no need to
change his physical appearance his voice morphed to mimic Konstantin’s accented tones. Tiffany
listened as she munched on a piece of toast already sa
tisfied from their small feast.
She pat her belly contentedly and enjoyed the sounds of the ocean while he concluded his call.
They were moving things ahead of schedule Ramj informed the o
ther man, Tiffany assumed
Alexi didn’t like what he’d heard by Ramj’s response.

“You’
ll just have to make sure every
thing
’
s ready for inspection tomorrow
evening.”

He listened
.

“The urgency is no concern of yours, either you can make arrangements for tonight or you can’t
and I’ll need to take my business elsewhere.”

Although she co
uldn’t make out Alexi’s words
she could hear his elevated tone.

“
Let’s
just say Korea has some weapons they’d be more than willing to part with.”

The other man
must have
capitulated.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page. Provided everything goes well tonight I’ll be on the first
flight tomorrow morning to meet with you and make arrangeme
nts for delivery and your final
payment.”

Ramj gaze caught hers as Alexi spoke.

“She’s doing very well, I’ll be sure to pass on your greeting.”

“Alexi sending well wishes?
” she asked once the call en
ded.

“Yes, very gracious of him.” Ramj’s tone was filled with sarcasm.

“He didn’t like the change in plans I take it?”

“No, but I doubt he or Enrique would care to lose their perceived profit.”

“And exactly why are you rushing things. There’s no reason Alexi would suspect you’re not
Konstantin.”

“Let’s just say I’ve more pressing matters to attend to once this is done.”

“Oh.” Like getting back to his soldiers she mentally supplied, thinking ba
ck to an earlier
conversation in which Ramj revealed more about life in his world. He was a military man, and it was
obvious
he was completely in love with every aspect of his job.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“No worries Ramj. I’m the last person you need to explain anything to.”

“That’s where you’re wrong”

“Listen,
you’re here because of your j
ob who wouldn’t be eager to get
home?
I understand completely. I’m just hoping we get to do a little sightseeing considering you’re
hopping out on the first thing flying tomorrow.”

“I thi
nk that can be arranged,
if you’re not too tired.”

“I feel my second wind coming on.” She smiled brightly in s
pite of the touch of melancholy
looming
in the background at the thought of their parting.

Ramj eyebrows arched suggestively.
“Really? Perhaps we should postpone the tourist route for more leisurely
indoor pursuits.”

“Not too likely buddy, now get your keester in gear.”

***

Tiffany knew it wasn’t reasonable to feel the sense of loss
she did watching Ramj board the
private jet for L.A.
She’d just met the man for goodness sakes.
She took some comfort in his reluctance at their parting.
Having the villa at her disposal wasn’t as
entertaining as she assured him
it would
be. Regardless of the luxury s
he couldn’t get her mind off Ramj
and his meeting with Alexi. Even the
idea of having a personal driver take her to any spot on Grand Cayman didn’t inspire her. She was
certain he could handle himself, after all he was a Fae capable of shifting into anything imaginable, not
to mention being trained military. What could A
lexi possibly do to him? W
hen he returned she’d have her life back and Alexi and Enrique would be behind bars where they belonged.
T
he thought should have consoled her but there was
still too m
any unanswered questions one of
which she planned to take care of asap.

“Hello Steve.”

A pregnant pause greeted her in response.

“Tiffany, is
it
really you?”

“Why do you sound so surprised to hear my voice?”

“Well… it’s just
…I’m not sure how to tell you this hon but we were told you were
dead.”

Her heart sank at his answer. There was a time when she con
sidered him to be her mentor, a
friend even.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you but I still have a few good years left in me.”

“Disappoint… why would I be disappointed?
” he had the nerve to sound believably shocked.

“You can cut the act, I know you’ve been feeding informatio
n back to the DEA on this case. “
What I don’t understand is why? Would sharing the limelight with me have been so hard to do?”

“I don’t believe what I’m hearing. What are you talking about?”

“Let
’
s not do this, there’s no reason to insult me by pretending ignorance.”

“Hon, there’s definitely no pretense on my part. I thought you were dead because that’s the
news we got back from the government, and while you’re correct I
have a contact inside the DEA I
wasn’t giving him information, it was the other way around. He was the one who informed our office
of your death, said
Alexi
had
made you. Asked me to sit on the
story until they could bring Alexi
in and
do your memory proper justice. At first I thought it was a mistake but when you missed your last
check in what else was I suppose
d to think?
”

It was her turn to sit in silence. None of this made an
y sense if she believed him it meant
he wasn’t
responsible for the leaks.

“What was the name of our DEA contact?” She knew the answer before he gave it.

“Agent Rasa.” They said in unison.

“How did you know?” Steve asked.

“It’s not important at the moment, but I need to know everything he told you about this case.”

“I think you already know everything. According to Agent R
asa the DEA has been building a
case against Enrique and Alexi for years, when you showed up on the scene they thought they’d lost
their whole drug case.”

“What about the weapons?”

“Weapons? What weapons?”

“Agent Rasa didn’t tell you about them?”

“Not one word. What kind of weapons are you talking about?”

“I
don’t have time to explain
right now.” What was R
asa up to? “Did he mention… um…
how I died?”

“He said you were caught in gun fire on Alexi’s estate, he ma
naged to get away but you
,
Enrique and some other of Alexi’s men died.”

Her stomach flip flopped and she did her best to focus on Steve’s words.

“They said your body would be kept until after Alexi was brought in.”

She swallowed passed the lump in her throat.

“Did he h
ave any idea when that might be?
”

“He didn’
t, but I got the impression
it would be soon.”

If sh
e
believed him did it mean
Ramj was in trouble?
He could be walking into a trap
with his friend Rasa at the helm. She had to get word to him but couldn’t think of any other way to do
so that didn’t involve getting back to LA.

“Steve I need a big favor.”

“Name it.”

“
Do you have any connections that
could get me a direct flight off of the Cayman Islands?”

“The where… you know what never mind, when this is all over I’l
l expect you to fill in all the
blanks.”

“Absolutely.”

“And Tiffany, be safe will ya?”

“Count on it.”

Chapter Seven

Cool and in control. It was the outward façade Tiffany hoped she portrayed as she was granted entrance into Alexi’s palatial foyer. On the insid
e her stomach twisted in apprehensive
loops
.

“Mr. Habalov and Malovich have been informed of your arrival, follow me.”

She recognized the guard who led her to Alexi’s private study, however from his lack of greeting one would think she was a total stranger. She noted how quiet the house seemed, an oddity for a place normally teeming with some sort of nighttime activity. Foreboding settled over her as Alexi summoned them in after a brief knock to the double doors. She was arrested by a sense of déjà vu as she walked into the room to find Alexi and Ramj (as Konstantin) seated much the same way they had been the day she’d left.

“I must say
this is a pleasant albeit unexpected surprise,” Alexi began. “And here I thought we would have to come to you.”

Tiffany heard his words but didn’t bother to acknowledge them as her eyes zeroed in on Ramj’s stoic visage. Statuesque even.

“What? No hello, how are you? It seems your new beau has been a bad influence on your manners. Although, I can’t completely blame him since he hasn’t been feeling quite himself lately. Isn’t that right?” He glanced beyond her should
er and back again. It was a brief look
yet enough to have the hairs on the back of her neck prickling. “We both know his name isn’t really Konstantin, isn’t that correct? What did you say it was again Yan?”

Tiffany thought she’d be ill, as another man seemed to step from the shadows. She wasn’t sure how she’d missed him. Although lean he stood heads and shoulders above average height.

“Ramj Oloff.” The man who looked as if he could play for the NBA supplied. “And you must be the infamous Tiffany Sinclair. Your pictures really don’t do you any justice.”

“Maybe we should keep her around for a bit. He seemed to enjoy himself with her,” Alexi suggested.

“No offense. Human females don’t interest me much. However, feel free to indulge yourself before we have to dispose of her.”

The men’s exchange slowly sank in, she felt lightheaded.
Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing showing up unarm
ed, but how was she to know
Ramj would be in a near cata
tonic state, at least that’s how it appeared to her. It was obvious
something was wrong with him. She just needed to figure out how to snap him out of his trance.

“If you’re looking to your friend for help I wouldn’t expect much. It seems Yan here has an amazing abili
ty to render a person immobile
. A wonderful talent.”

“You’re suppose
d
to be helping him,” she found her voice turning accusatory eyes on the non-human.

“Me, help a Fae?” She all but waited for a sinister laugh to follow the completely diabolical look on his
face. “I’d rather see you human
s destroy this earth first.”

“We do
and your people are gone too.”

He shrugged, “Some, but those of us left will inherit the earth and could rebuild a new order. What your kind calls survival of the fittest.”

“How do you know you’ll be among the survivors? You must hold a very high opinion of yourself.”

“No
too bright
of you
to taunt a man with supernatural powers.” Alexi advised.

“And you, what do you think will happen to you in his destruction scenario.”

Alexi cocked his head to one side, his normally arrogant grin plastered across his face.

“I’m not really worried about it. By the time Yan is ready to put his plan in motion, in say about seventy years or so, I’ll be long gone from this earth having died a very rich, very happy man.”

“By selling out the rest of humanity?”

“Someone is bound to do it, why shouldn’t I be the one to benefit?”

“You really are a parasite,” she spat in disgust. Anger rose to replace fear.

Any reaction to her speech was squelched by a knock.

“E
nter,” he called in a voice illustrating
his irritation.

“Enrique, my friend. Glad you could make it.” Alexi stood stretching his phony smile.

“You made it sound urgent. What the hell are they doing here?” He paused just inside the room taking in the unexpected trio.

“Looks like Alexi plans on ending your partnership.” Tiffany provided making a quick summation of the situation.

“Beauty will only get you so far my sweet. So I suggest you focus that mind of yours on ways to make me have a change of heart regarding your future, and work less at annoying me.”

“Alexi, what is she talking about?” Enrique looked between the two quizzically.

“The pretty little lady is right, I’m afraid. As of today I’m walking away from what has been a rather lucrative partnership, but the best part is I plan on taking your earnings too.”

“
Chinga tu madre
,” Enrique cursed. What happened next seemed as if it were scripted from a mafia film, forcing Tiffany into immediate action. With precision reflexes Enrique reached for a holstered gun at his side but fell short on the draw as Alexi had already procured one from the waist of his trousers and was aiming point blank for his former partner. With the courage of someone determined to live Tiffany lunged herself at Alexi mere seconds before the shot rang out from his weapon.

She heard a loud yelp as metal made contact with flesh. Another bullet sounded its warning cry before a sharp, excruciating pain pummeled through her chest radiating in a burst of white hot
agony which
left her gasping for her next breath. In the distance she could hear rapid footfalls rushing up the flight of stairs. Any minute the room would be inundated with both mobsters’ security force. Her body hit the floor. She struggled to maintain conscious
ness but was pleased to see
Alexi’s ill-fated shot had actually made contact with Yan’s shoulder. The evidence seeped through his fingers coating them and his shirt in red while he cursed, shooting daggers at her with his eyes. She blinked through the pain using precious energy to maneuver and see the chair where Ramj sat. Elation filled her at its emptiness. He was alive. Her sigh of relief was cut short by the pain burning in her chest. It even hurt to keep her eyes open. The sounds of gunshots and yells managed to push through the pain. In her heart of hearts she knew Ramj
was responsible for the new round of damage and was certain
he would be okay.

***

A nearby stream was the first thing to get her attention, followed immediately by the sun’s light beaming down on her face.

“Can someone cancel morning?” She groaned reaching for a pillow to shield her face.

“Anything you wish.”

The response
was followed by a swishing sound. Blessedly the room dimmed
but she temporarily forgot her morning aversions as she recognized the familiar voice.

“Ramj!” She snapped into a sitting position, realizing instantly what a bad idea it was as the throbbing in her head and chest made her collapse back into the downy pillows.

He was at her side in seconds.
“Whoa, take it easy the h
ealer hasn’t quite finished with you yet.”

“
Fine, tell whoever
I’d appreciate a lethal injection if there’s one handy.”